Clutch.



J. F. DORNFELD.

cLucH. V APPLICATION FILED }AN.`24, |916.

:wjl n atented July l?, 191?.

Meh/507A:

2m zyOm/M.

"insanely To all whom 7315 may concern: -l

Be it known thatI, JOHN F.I l)oRNrnLn,

' a citiien of the United States, `residing at useful Improvements inClutches, of which.:

' nection -betvveen theclutclr members. i

` :such nature that clutches of various` pouver-1` transmitting,capacities may bey made upbfy' using a greater or lesser number ofduplicate and quickly assembled. "4o

Chicago, in the county of `VCook?l and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain' nevir "and,

"Le the following is a specificationz' This invention relates toAfrictiomclutches and particularly to friction clutchesrof the type known.as disk clutches. In 'clutches 'of l this,`type there arefrictionringsjordisks," some of which are connected to the-drivingmember of the clutch and the .remainderto thel driven member ,ofl theclutch, said rings" or disksforming the frictional driving con One oftheobjects of the inventionislto provide improved means for bringing the.)Vfriction elements into driving contact, which, shall he'simple, cheapinconstruction'v and Vnot likely to get outof repair. l Another objeett heinvention is to .p1-o.:r vide a means orgseparatingftheg friction ele-j:ments when the HA general object' of the invention is to, produce .afriction clutch of suchsimple 'construction that the parts thereof maybe. produced largely by. means of lathe Work and" punch-press operationswhich shall be of.

parts; which shall havea minimumnumber of different. parts, thusreducingth'enumber of different .par-ts Which-mustbe vcarried in stock;H and which may be easily 1n the accompanying-drawings,

ofv a' friction cluteh' A embodying the features of my invention, theview being taken in the plane of dotted line 1-`1'o f Fig. 3.- Fig. 2

is a .fragmental longitudinal section on dotted line 2-2ofFig. 3. Fig. 3is -a fragf mental vend view of the fulcrum ring. jf' .Fig; 4 is afragmental transverse section on dotted 'i or 4asa' so-called pulleyclutch. The embodi'f j'ment herein shown ofthe invention comlline 4-44of Fig. 1. Fig.. 5 is a perspective view of one of the elements of theoperating mechanism.

A clutch of thecharactenherein disclosed is adapted lfor'use either as ashaft coupling prises .a` casing 1` attached to or including a sleeve orhub2. -Upon'the casingor the hub.

I 1 Sneciiication of Lette Appui-ation meu-January 24,1316. serial n.73,322.

Figure l1 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view` .Tenu r1.oricrr'roneo,- rnnr'nors. y

or vany other device or vvcombination slatent. lifigfllgllli'; A

^ -may be secured av brakeband, .a'gear'wheeh afpulley of devices to beiactuated orzcontrolledby v"the clutch. The sleeve2 isrotatablynmun y'edupon theshaft 3.' j If'the'clutch Wer-ete beVY tions'- .v y' .Withinthe4casingl are loeatedtvvov series fof friction'elements, one of which :is*con-1.

nected'jto the casing andthe othento-the- .Ifnenfsfare `pressediftoahfwith .aimaient i '11e togtherlf AO neof 'the series of"` friction jeliorce, ythe#xc'asir'lg and heshaft shall rotate mentsconsists of- `aplurality of annulary o rotate With-the casing-by suitable means;

of 'frictionl elements may bei `lplace iasgfor example, one or morefeathers f7; wouldhave it understood thatvtlfer forms The frictionelements'8,i9`,`10, :and`l12j 'i longitudinally ofzthe'sleeve, but whichare able means', 'asfor example, one or more feathers 1 5- or the boltsor studs 16. TheV feathers 15'rnay, if desired, be omitted The Lboltsorstuds 16 are fixed tothe ring 8 and passI freely through 'the .elements9, 10, 11 land-.12. Upon the outer ends `of said bolts isslidablysupported an abutment ring 17, the ring being confined upon thebolts by meansv of 'nuts 18, Surrounding the bolts 16 are coiledcompressed springs`19, 19 lying Within openings in the rings 9 and 11and tending to move the rings 8 and12 away from the flange 1 0.4

Interposed between the 'rings12 and 17 is a plurality of similaroperating levers 2O (only one of Whichis shown in the draw'- ings).Eachof. said-levers consists of a fulcruln pin 21, a friction. roller 22'upenn- 'caused to `rotate with the sleeve 13 by suit- I pin V.23, andthe si'dfpieces 24.l Upon ring 12 are formed' bearingsockets 25 to'.

collar 26. The ends ofthe operating levers tapered end and an annulargroove 27 to receive the forked end of a suitable operating element (notshown). '28 is an annular shoulder to limit inward. movement of the 20opposite the rollers 22 are provided with counterbalance weights 29 forthe purpose to appear hereinaften` Y The casing lcomprises an annularinwardly-extendingclosing flange 30' which extends close to the ring 17.The ring 117 has a rim31 projecting into the casing, and this rim has' agroove 32 in its outer periphery. AThe purpose of this rim and groove isto prevent oil from getting out of the clutch7 casingwhenthelatterrcontains a quantity" of oil.

Coiled springs 33 are interposed betweenv the rings 6 and serve to movethe friction elements 4 away from the friction elements 8, 9, 10, 11 and12'when the clutch is thrown out. 34 are stop rings fitted into groovesformed in the inner periphery of the` casing 1 and serving as stops forthe two inner rings 6 when the clutch is released and the springs 33 arefree to act. Preferably, the stop rings 34 are madeof a' larger diameterthan the largest diameter of the grooves into which they out, as shownat 35 in Fig. 4, and the ring sprung into place. `Thesurfaces36 and 37serve as stops to limit the movement of the two outer rings 6undentheaction of the springs 33.

The operation ofthe Vdutch is` as follows:

`Figs. 1 and 2 show the ci/fitchas thrown in,

the casing 1 and the 11u52 being clutched to the shaft 3. To throwfoutthe clutch, `the collar 26 is moved to theright, whereupon the rollers-22 move downthe tapered end of said collar and tuwar'd` the axis of theshaft 3. Such movement of the rollers 22 is caused in part-by vtheexpansion of the springs 19 and the consequent movement of the ring 17tothe left; in part by the\ex l pansion of the springs 19 and theconsequent movement of the ring 12 to theA right; and in part by theoutward movement of the counterbalance weights 29,l 29 through theaction of centrifugal force. The expansion.

of the springs 19, 19 and 33 causes separation of the friction elementsfrom one another.

When the vcasing 1 and `the `sleeve 2 are to be clutched to they shaft3, the collar 26 is moved inwardly, whereby the rollers 22 are movedoutwardly against the ring 17, thereby moving said ring outwardl that isto say, toward the rightin Figs. 1- and 2. When thus moved the ring 17draws the friction elements 8 and9 and the two/adjacentl rings 4 againstthe ange 10. Such' outward adjacent rings 4 are forced into contact withthe ange 1 f Y It will be seen that when `the collar 26 is movedoutwardly to throw out the clutch,

' the springs 19, 19 and 33 and the counterbalanceweights 29 will effectthe throwing out of the clutch with certainty.

The nuts 18 may be turned on the bolts 16 to adjust the clamping actionand to take up wear.

4 I would have it understood that the clutch vshown in the drawings is'merely illustrative of the invention, and 'that a larger or smallernumber of friction rings'may be'employed corresponding to the desiredpower-transmitting capacity of the clutch.` Various other changes alsomay be made by those skilled in "the art without departing from thespirit and scopeof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In certain of the claims I have used thc term an inner member todesignate the sleeve 13 and its equivalents,.and the term an outermember to designate the casing '1 and the sleeve 2 and theirequivalents. iit; a small portion of the ringis then cut I claim as myinvention:

v1. A friction clutch having, in combination, a casing, a sleeve withinthe casing, a `plurality of rings connected to the casing for axialsliding movement, springs tending to separate said rings, an annularfriction element secured to each of said rings, a friction flange rigidwith the sleeve, two annular friction elements connected to the sleevefor axial sliding movement and located one "lat each side of saidflange, springs tending ,to separate the friction elements from theflange, bolts connected to one of the sliding elements upon the sleeve,an annularabutment supported by said bolts, a lever pivotally supportedupon the other of the slidable elements on the sleeve, and a sleeveextending slidably through said Aabutment and arranged to pivotally move:supported upon another-of they slidable elcments on-the-clutch, and asleeve extending slidably through said abutment and arranged topivotally move said lever` against the abutment, said abutmenthaving anexnular closingV flange, exten imity to the rim.

y 3. A frictionclutchhaving, in combination, a casing, a sleeve withinthe casing, aplurality of rings connected to the casingl for axialsliding movement, springs tonding to separate said rings, -an annularfriction element secured to 'each ofsaidrings,

ments upon the' sleeve,.a1i.abutmentsupf ported by said bolts, a leverpivotally sup-ll ported upon `another of the "slidable-elements on thesleeve, and a reciprocatory sleeve arranged topivotally movev said leveragainst the abutment.

' et. A friction clutch having, in ,combination, a casing, ay sleevelwithinthe casing,

a plurality of rings connected to the casing a plurality of annularfriction elements connected tothesleeve, certain of vsaid. lastmentioned elements beingarranged for axial -sliding movement, spring-meanstending to nected to one ofthe sliding' elements upon the sleeve,an annular abutmentsupported by said bolts, a lever pivotally ,supported.upon another of the slida'ble elements on the sleeve, 'and a sleevelextending slidably through said abutment and arranged yto pivA Aotallymove said lever against the Iab'ut.

ment.

40 5. A friction lclutch having, in combination, a casing, a sleevewithin-the casing,

` a friction ring connectedr to the casing for axial sliding movement,two friction rings connected to the sleevefonaxial' sliding movement,lvspring means tending: to'. separate lsaid friction rings, 1an abutmentconnected to one of the rings of'thejsleeve, a llever pivoted to theother ringof the sleeve.

and arranged to bear against .the abutment, and means for abutment.

6. Ari-friction clutch having, in ycombination,l agcasing, a sleevewithin the casing, a friction ring connected to the casing for axialsliding movement, two friction rings connected to the sleeve for axial'sliding movement and lying at opposite sides-of the other ring, springmeans tending to separate said friction rings, .anwannular abutment,bolts connecting the abutment to one 'of the rings of the sleeve andsupporting the abutment at one side of all of the rings, `a memberinterposed between the abutment and the other ring of the sleeve, and'means for moving said-member Vto increase the disiiaeaaeei tendingmisgaat 'casi'hmjng an an; mg into pron-V.

said certain elements away" from' each other,

for axial slidingmovement, an annular friction. element secured to' eachof said rings,`

c the axis-of the'clutchanda device to'move forcing the lever against'the tance between the` 'abutment and vthe ylast mentioned ring.l -1 f-j 7. A friction clutchhavin'g, in combina-v tion, a casing, a,sleevewithinthe casing,

va friction ringconnected to the' casing for 70 axialsliding movement,t'wo friction rings connectedv to the, sleevefor axial sliding movementAlying at opposite vsides of thev other ring, spring means. tendingl tosepa- `rate s aidlfriction rings,: an-abutment hav? 75e ing alooseconnection with one of theA rings of the sleeve, a memberinterposed betweenthe abutment `-land the other ring ofthe sleeve, andmeans .for moving saidmember to Vincreasethe:distance between the abut?80, -me'nftfand'the last. mentioned i 8. A'friction clutchV having, incombinatioir coacting frictionl elements, an 'abut'- mentconnectedftoone ofthe friction eleamentsgia lever interposed between the abiltj"fment andthe frictionelements, and meansv for ,pivotally--mov'in'g saidlever, in thel direcf tionf to forceltheabutment away 'from the adjacentvfriction element, sa'id leverhaving a counterbalance portionv"tendingin the ro-' 9 0 tation ofthe clutch tolpivotally move 'the' flever'in the opposite direction;`

9. Af friction clut'ch having, combina-- tion, coacting friction,elements, and'means vto force. said elements into engagement withseparate thev friction elements, bolts conj having a :counterweightactuatedfby centrif .iigal'force to pivotally .movesaid part into? 'Iinoperative" position upon the Vmovement of T 1 the sleeve. intoinoperativey position.

1o. mentioneiuahnamg, in .combina-"105 tion, coac friction-elements,andmeans to force-sai Vlements into engagement'with eachother, saidmeans including a pivoted partadapted to swing vin 4a plane radial to.I

said part in the directionlto force the friction elementsv intoengagement with each. other, said device being withdrawable fro m saidpart, said part .havingl a counterweight actuated by centrifugalj'forceto .pivotally move said partintoinoperative positionvupon'withdrawal ofsaid device. v 11. A .friction clutch having, in combination, coactingfriction elements, an abut-` ment having a; loose connection with one ofthe friction elements, a lever. interposedbetween the, abutment,` andthefriction ele ments, means for pivotally moving said lever `to, force`the abutment away` from the adj a-v cent friction element, and meansfor pivotally moving said lever in the opposite direction each other,said means including a tapered sleeve having a sliding" movement intoand out of'operative position, and means adapted to Swing in a planeradial to the aXis of the sleeve and actuated by centrifugal force torestore another part of said forcing- 'means to inoperative positionupon the movement ofthe sleeve into inoperative position. l

13. 4A friction clutch having, in combination, an inner member, an outermember, friction elements carried by said members,

spring means tending;l to separate said friction elements, an'abutme'nthaving a loose connection with one of the friction elements, anoperating lever interposed between the abutment and another of thefriction elements, and means for moving said lever to tion,

.being located mentioned element, sprlng means tending to separate saidfriction elements, an abutment having a loosev connection with one ofthe two frictionelements carried by the inner member, an operating leverinterposed bel tween the abutment'and the other of said two frictionelements, and means for moving saidleverto increase the distance betweenthe abutment and the last mentioned friction element. 15. A frictionclutch having, in combinaelements slidably carried by said innermenfrber, each of said end elements lying adjacent to one of saidfriction rings, an abutment slidably ment toward the central frictionelement, a member interposed between the abutment and the other endfriction element, and meansfor moving said member to increase thedistance between the abutment and the last mentioned end frictionelement.

16. A friction clutch having, in combination, an outer member, an innermember, a fixed central friction element thereon, a friction ringat eachside of the central element, friction elements slidable longitudinallyon the inner member, an abutment connected to one of the slidablefriction elements and arranged to draw one of the slidableelementstoward the central element, a member interposed between the abutlnentand another' slidable friction element, and means formoving said memberto increase the'distance, between the abutment and the last mentionedslidable friction element.

Iar` testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hanV JOHN F. DORNFELD.

AIne-.,If'the presence of-- W. STIEMKE, CEAS. R. BLUMnNrELD.-'

. connected to one of the end friction r" elements and arranged to drawthe end ele-

